(CEDAR CITY, Utah) - Southern Utah University gymnastics has announced a new gymnastics alliance, joining Utah State, Boise State, Denver and Brigham Young in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Championship. The group will look at becoming the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference in 2014-15 when the league is anticipated to be fully recognized by the NCAA.

"This will be a great opportunity for us moving forward to be closely associated with these programs," head coach Scott Bauman said of the alignment. "This conference has the chance to be one of the most competitive in the nation and we expect to see each of the teams in the top-25 when things are all said and done."

SUU is familiar with each conference foe as the Thunderbirds have faced USU, BSU and Denver in the Western Athletic Conference each of the past two seasons. The T-Birds also have a long history with BYU, facing the Cougars at least once each season since the 1989 campaign.

Southern Utah will open its 2014 season on Jan. 6, hosting its annual Red/White preview at 7:00 p.m. in the Centrum Arena.

(CEDAR CITY, Utah) - Southern Utah University gymnastics has announced a new gymnastics alliance, joining Utah State, Boise State, Denver and Brigham Young in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Championship. The group will look at becoming the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference in 2014-15 when the league is anticipated to be fully recognized by the NCAA.

"This will be a great opportunity for us moving forward to be closely associated with these programs," head coach Scott Bauman said of the alignment. "This conference has the chance to be one of the most competitive in the nation and we expect to see each of the teams in the top-25 when things are all said and done."

SUU is familiar with each conference foe as the Thunderbirds have faced USU, BSU and Denver in the Western Athletic Conference each of the past two seasons. The T-Birds also have a long history with BYU, facing the Cougars at least once each season since the 1989 campaign.

Southern Utah will open its 2014 season on Jan. 6, hosting its annual Red/White preview at 7:00 p.m. in the Centrum Arena.